Weedy Scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa)

The Weedy Scorpionfish or Rhinopias frondosa is a saltwater fish that is a master of camouflage. This fish has a series of appendages that can easily be mistake for sea weed.  As you can imagine, this makes the fish the perfect ambush predator.  They will lie in wait until an unsuspecting meal gets too close and then strike with impressive speed.

Belonging to the Scorpaenidae family, these fish can vary greatly in color depending on what best suits their environment.  You can learn a bit more about them in the short video below...


Reaching about 9" (23cm) in length, the Weedy Scorpionfish is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans in depths of up to 295' (90 meters). These fish are sometimes known as Popeyed Scorpionfish, and do occasionally make their way into the aquarium trade, though at a steep price!

If you have any additional information about the Weedy Scorpionfish please leave us a comment below.

NEXT

PREVIOUS

Tassled Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis oxycephala)

 The Tassled Scorpionfish or Scorpaenopsis oxycephala is a dangerous saltwater fish that is found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. This carnivorous fish has venomous spines that will cause serious pain to the unsuspecting victim that may step on them. This fish are often found in shallow waters in and around reefs.

Tassled Scorpionfish is just one of the over 100 different species of Scorpionfish. This particular species grows to about 14" (36 cm) and can vary in coloration a great deal depending on it surroundings. This fish will have "tassles" or beards below their jaws, hence their name. They mainly feed on smaller fish and crustaceans. This fish will feed by opening its mouth wide and using their gills to create a suction that literally sucks the fish right into their mouths. They will lie in wait on the bottom for an unsuspecting fish to swim to close and then snatch them up with amazing speed.

If you have any additional information about the Tassled Scorpionfish please leave us a comment or watch the Tassled Scorpionfish and other amazing creatures in the video below...

Spotted Coral Croucher (Caracanthus maculatus)

The Spotted Coral Croucher or Caracanthus maculatus is often found near, you guessed it, corals. Also known as the Pacific Spotted Velvetfish, and the Gumdrop Coral Croucher, they are white with red dots that cover their bodies. These saltwater fish are also covered with hair-like appendages, which gives them a fuzzy appearance. They are very small, only growing to about 2" in length. This fish belongs to the Scorpionfish family.

As you can imagine, they are a favorite among aquarium enthusiasts that have coral in their aquariums. A tank of at least 30 gallons is recommended with the following water conditions, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4 and sg 1.020-1.025. Although they won't mess with most tankmates, they will battle their own kind if kept in too small of an aquarium. Be very careful when handling the Spotted Coral Croucher, they have spines on their dorsal fins that are venomous. While not life threatening, the sting will hurt a bit worse then a bee sting.  Spotted Coral Crouchers should be fed a variety of meaty foods including Brine Shrimp, Frozen Mysid Shrimp and other frozen foods. If you plan on keeping them in an aquarium with corals they only need to be fed once a day, if not they should be fed twice a day.

Breeding Spotted Coral Crouchers in captivity is possible. This fish will lay eggs that sink into the coral which gives them a nature barrier against potential predators in the wild.  If you have any additional information about the Spotted Coral Croucher please leave us a comment below.